GREEN INITIATIVE FOR RIAU
Uncovering forest-based climate solutions for people and planet.
Indonesia, home to some of the world’s richest tropical forests, plays a critical role in the global response to climate change. The country aims to reach net‑zero emissions by 2060, supported by its Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 plan. This ambitious effort targets 140 million tonnes of CO2 absorbed per year—the equivalent of removing 30 million cars from the road.
Why Riau?
With approximately 4.9 million hectares of peatlands, Indonesia's Riau Province holds one of the largest natural carbon stocks in the country. However, it has also experienced some of the nation's highest rates of deforestation and land degradation, largely due to peatland drainage, fires, and land‑use conversion.
Peatlands—among the most carbon‑rich ecosystems on Earth—present both an opportunity and a challenge. When preserved, they act as powerful carbon sinks. But when degraded, they release vast amounts of CO2 and methane, becoming major sources of emissions.
Given this dual role, managing peatlands effectively is essential to fight against climate change. Riau is now taking steps toward jurisdictional REDD+ readiness.
Jurisdictional
REDD+
REDD+
readiness is a climate finance mechanism that rewards emissions reductions achieved at the provincial or national level, promoting large‑scale forest conservation and sustainable land use.
Riau's
6.5 MILLION
6.5 MILLION
million residents—nearly half of whom live in rural areas—are deeply connected to the land, with livelihoods rooted in agroforestry, eco‑tourism, and non‑timber forest products.
The Initiative
The Green for Riau Initiative (Growing Resilience through Emissions Reductions, Community Empowerment, and Ecosystem Restoration for a Nurturing Future — GREEN for Riau), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK‑FCDO), brings together the national‑level Ministry of Forestry (MoF) and Ministry of Environment (MoE), which will provide guidance and direction to the project, aligning it with national priorities while drawing on learnings and benefits from the initiative through the piloting of REDD+ RBP at the sub‑national level, with the aim of expanding to other provinces and the national level.
MAJOR OBJECTIVE
Riau qualifies for high‑integrity REDD+ payments from public and private sectors through stronger legal, technical, and institutional systems aligned with Indonesia's REDD+ architecture.
SUB‑NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
A multi‑stakeholder group consisting of representatives from both provincial and municipal government agencies where REDD+ activities are taking place. With technical support provided by the UN‑REDD Programme—led by UNEP with support from FAO—the joint programme management group will coordinate and oversee the execution and monitoring of all REDD+ project activities, ensuring alignment with national policies and international standards.
The initiative will deliver:
- Setting a forest emissions baseline and setting up a forest monitoring system.
- Establishing social and environmental safeguards, including integrating Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and setting up a benefit‑sharing mechanism in line with national and international REDD+ standards.
- Strengthening land‑use governance, policy framework and build capacity.
- Register and validate Riau's Sub‑national REDD+ RBP programme for international trading.
- Establishing a financial mechanism to ensure transparent fund flows, coordinate with the private sector, develop an investment pipeline, and identify potential buyers.
Spotlight
Riau holds one of Indonesia’s largest carbon stocks, with 4.9 MILLION hectares of peatlands.
Peatland restoration alone could cut up to 200 MILLION tonnes CO2 annually.
Indonesia aims to remove 140 MILLION tonnes CO2/year—equal to 30 million cars off the road.
Riau could potentially unlock hundreds of millions of dollars annually in public and private carbon finance.
The province is a biodiversity hotspot, home to iconic and endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, orangutan, and elephant.
Long‑Term Impact
Enhanced climate resilience for peatland communities.
Model for replication across other provinces and for national level implementation and countries.
Latest JREDD+ actions in Riau Province
GREEN for Riau Opens Public Feedback Channel for Riau Province REDD+ Architecture Documents
Communities and stakeholders are invited to submit inputs, questions, and recommendations on the seven GREEN for Riau strategic documents through the available online public feedback channel.
GREEN for Riau Strengthens the Foundation for Jurisdictional REDD+ through an Inclusive, Transparent, and Equitable Public Consultation
Seven strategic documents were refined to strengthen the REDD+ architecture as a policy foundation for emission reductions, protection of community rights, stakeholder engagement, gender equality, grievance handling, and benefit sharing in Riau Province.
Protecting Carbon, Nurturing Life: Lessons from the Heart of the Kampar Peninsula Peatlands
A field visit to Restorasi Ekosistem Riau in the Kampar Peninsula offered valuable lessons on peatland restoration, carbon management, community engagement, and strengthening the jurisdictional REDD+ approach in Riau Province.
